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Understanding Alcohol Tolerance

What is alcohol tolerance? Tolerance to alcohol is when drinking the same amount no longer produces the same level of buzz. When a person has developed alcohol tolerance, they will need to consume a higher number of drinks to feel the effects. 

Higher tolerance in some individuals may foster higher levels of drinking, which can have negative health effects. While those who have developed tolerance may not feel the effects of alcohol as readily, they are still doing damage to their liver and may begin a pattern of dependency.

Metabolic Tolerance

  • Although this is not the only type of tolerance that a person can develop, it is the most commonly associated with alcohol and tolerance. Metabolic tolerance happens when the liver learns more efficient ways to metabolize alcohol, thus causing people to not feel the effects of consumption as quickly.

Environmental Tolerance

  • People develop higher alcohol tolerance when they regularly consume alcohol in the same setting. Folks who consume alcohol in novel settings (a friend’s new apartment, a different bar, etc.) may find that they feel the effects of alcohol more quickly.

Important Takeaways

    • Your sex at birth and body weight are not the only two things that affect your tolerance to alcohol
    • The higher your tolerance to alcohol, the more you may have to drink to feel the same effects
    • Higher amounts of alcohol in one sitting can expose you to risk for organ failure and alcohol dependence (alcoholism).
    • If you are drinking in a new location or with different people your tolerance to alcohol may go down. Try to pace your drinks even more than usual if you find yourself drinking in a new setting.